Pages

Monday, November 21, 2016

It's been ages! I must say that although I will be keeping up this blog, I am finding Blogger increasingly user-unfriendly, so if you're on Facebook, I also have a regularly updated public 'The Inside-Out House' page: I also post my writerly news on Twitter.

Quite a few exciting things have happened in the last few months. Here's a seasonal round-up:

I'm very pleased to say that 'Homecoming' was reviewed in 'The Jewish Chronicle' in July, which featured a great review of my long poem for three voices, 'Bus Shelter':

Ezekiel's attempt at empathy with a Muslim, as a Jew and a poet, demonstrates passion effectively deployed.
'Homecoming' had a lovely review from Jenny Sharman at new Northern arts site 'Cuckoo Review'. This was a humbling review, as my poem 'Mary has been invited along to make up the numbers' has reached a new audience:

...in this collection she is nearly always “at home”. It is a book to be fond of. Read it. You will read it again.

I had a very enjoyable time reading from 'Homecoming' and 'Centuries of Skin' at York Explore, with a number of local poets, for National Poetry Day, and was delighted to be invited to read at 'Finding the Words' with excellent poets Patrick Lodge and Mary Ann Dearlove, also at York Explore.

The 'The Cross-Stitcher' magazine also featured my poem 'Priceless' and a photo of the cover of 'Homecoming' in its July/August issue, along with a giveaway of a signed copy of 'Homecoming'. I have been cross-stitching for many years, and buy 'The Cross-Stitcher' myself, so was very excited to be featured.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Perhaps spring - whatever the weather - is the best time of year in which to publish a book. Both of my poetry collections came out in spring. My new poetry collection, Homecoming, was launched at the Oxfam Bookshop in Micklegate, York, last night. This morning, I saw a rare sight in the back yard - a bumblebee.

Jamie and Rosa from Valley Press, who are producing five books in five weeks! I was so delighted with Rosa's introduction that I will be including it in my blog profile. The Valley Press book table was very seductive - with a lovely new Valley Press banner behind it -, and I now have books by Di Slaney, Patrick Lodge, Malene Engelund and Kelley Swain to add to my summer reading list.

Rosa from Valley Press

Hamish at the Oxfam Bookshop, who was enthusiastic about the launch from the start, and his wife Sheila, whose room setting advice was invaluable. The bookshop has, among other sections, a large range of poetry books, a children's section, and some great postcards and greetings cards. Also lots of 'Divine' chocolate that I can never resist.

Amina Alyal

Oz Hardwick

Guest readers Amina Alyal and Oz Hardwick. Both Amina and Oz write poems that you can't sum up in terms of saying easily what they are 'about'. There are usually several surprising and creative connections involved. I am proud to have their endorsements on the back of my book, along with three other excellent poets: David Cooke, Fiona Sinclair, and:

Andy Humphrey, who also attended. Even though Andy is very busy he took the time to send out an extra email to remind people to attend.

Terry and Yafa, for the matzos, a kind thought.
And extra special thanks to Chris, Mum and Jon for all their support.

Chris has taken some great photos, which I think show that the Oxfam Bookshop in Micklegate is a nicely-lit venue.

There's a lot of excitement at mydelayedreactions at the moment, as my second poetry collection, 'Homecoming', will be published next month by Valley Press. It's dedicated to my Dad, who sadly died in 2013, and will contain poems written over a period of about ten years, including a Bridport Prize longlisted poem, and the title poem which was the Ryedale Poetry Competition winner in 2012.

About Joanna

This blog has been running since 2007 and has been archived by the British Library. I have a young adult novel, 'The Inside-Out House', published by Indigo Dreams, and two poetry collections, 'Centuries of Skin' (Ragged Raven) and 'Homecoming' (Valley Press, due April 2016). I am a creative writing tutor for the Open University and am completing my second young adult novel.